Dark: Next piece. Read & review
Summary/Disclaimer: check the prologue.
Italics – thoughts
"..." – speaking
Chapter 13... Light or Dark?
Life had stopped. Time had stopped.
Or at least, the beating of her heart had stopped.
Her eyes were still wide. Her body still shook after the repercussion of the curse. But all she really felt was numbness.
The body of her beloved grandfather, the only person that had remained by her side and took care of her after her parents' deaths and the one she trusted above everyone else had passed away. For her. To protect her.
Voldemort let out a low chuckle not long after that, saying something. Something Ten didn't care to listen. Absently, with glazed eyes, she saw Aurors, teachers and Harry approaching. Still, not even seeing him made her come out of her stupor. All she saw was her grandfather lying before her, motionless.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was gone. Had given his life away for her. The last member of her family died, the one she would always turn to, to always comfort her had passed away.
And yet, she didn't, couldn't accept that. If she stopped to think clearly for a while, she might have realised she was going into shock. Yet, that wasn't the case.
Her eyes stared listlessly to Dumbledore's peaceful features, her mind trying to make her notice they would never change again, that it was all over. The young witch failed to notice Tonks kneeling beside her, bringing her up to a sitting position, speaking. Speaking? Was she, really? All she acknowledged was the movement of the older woman's lips, not the supposed sound coming from them.
"Avada Kedavra!!"
Dull greyish blue orbs finally left the body of the former Headmaster, looking up when hearing those two words. The words she had uttered countless times tonight, the same two words that had put an end to her grandfather's life. Words that no one should ever know.
She saw, but barely noticed, Voldemort falling heavily to the ground, vivid red eyes finally closing, closing the horrors they had witnessed. The wand that was held in his hand, easily the most feared wand Wizarding people had ever known, fell, rolling on the ground and finally stopping not far from her. Almost instinctively, her hand reached out, picking it up, twirling it in front of her face as if it was a new toy. Lifting her other hand, she grasped the other hand of the wooden item. Just as she was about to break it, someone took it out of her reach. The witch beside her held her hands gently, still trying to talk to her. And still, the numbness she still felt did not let her hear her, let alone formulate a reply.
Her eyelids started to drop ever so slowly, her vision wavering. In reflex, she tilted her head upwards, her back leaning over one of Tonks' arms, not that she noticed.
She blinked. Once. Twice. Two red eyes looked back at her intently, the thin black slits glinting dangerously. Her eyes widened slightly, some of the bright blue colour returning, "It's not over yet."
Everyone around her seemed to stop whatever they were doing, reaching closer to her, looking at her curiously. Slowly, the awareness of sounds came back to her.
"What do you mean?" the soft voice of the witch beside her was what she first heard, and slowly shouts of retreat and cheering were also heard.
Her eyes didn't leave the ones that were staring right back at her, their dark body growing steadily. "Up there." Everyone that heard her looked up, eyes widening as they also saw it.
"What the heck is that thing?" someone asked to no one is particular, yet voicing everyone's thoughts. A Stunning Spell was cast towards it, though it had no effect. Correction, it made the thing grow.
Ten finally got to her feet, still not looking away from it. Her hues widened again, That vision! Beside her, Harry soon realised the same.
"I saw that before. In one of my dreams."
She turned to look at him, "You did?" she glanced at it again, "I did too..."
"That black aura. The darkness itself." The boy repeated. That was how he had described it at the time.
The heiress bit her lip, We had the same vision. Meaning, we must know someway to stop it or at least weaken it. We have to... "Darkness itself... Darkness..." realisation dawned on her like a ton of bricks.
««Flashback»»
"Alright, that's enough for today. Goyle, help Crabbe go over to the Hospital Wing, will you?" Draco jumped off his broom a couple of feet away from the ground.
"What? Already?" Blaise landed swiftly beside his captain, "We've been practising for barely one hour and a half! We need a good two hours, you know that."
"Yes, I do. And last time I checked, I was also the captain of this team, not you, Zabini." The blonde sent him a glare, making the other boy look away.
"He's right. It's getting dark anyway." Ten shrugged, placing her broom over her shoulder.
"My point exactly." At that, Draco's eyes locked with hers. A hint of desperation shined on their depths, but before she could be sure, it was gone, "And to fight off darkness, the only thing there is, is light."
««End Flashback»»
"That's it..." Ten crouched down, picking up her discarded wand on her way, "Of course. He knew. He always knew. Now I understand. He gave me the answers. He just wasn't clearer about them because he wasn't completely sure he could trust me." She looked up at the thing again, "Only before the attack, he made up his mind."
"He?"
"Draco. Never mind that." Most of the people around them gasped as they saw the thing kill three Death Eaters, "A spell, a spell that lightens up the place, stronger than lumos. A lot stronger than that." It headed towards them menacingly, and even though many around her gulped, not one took a step back. Remus and Tonks took two steps forwards, standing in front of Ten.
"Lumos Maxima. It creates a strong light." Harry stood beside her, his wand ready, looking over at her.
"Alright. We'll use that one." The dark being hovered above them, almost giving out the sensation that it was smirking.
"Soon... is now." It said in a voice that eerily made everyone remember Voldemort's, seemingly to come from every corner and echo inside their heads.
It suddenly attacked them, just as Ten and Harry lifted their wands, shouting the spell, soon followed by everyone else.
Dark and Light mixed together, the joining making beams of pure white light or pitch black energy shoot everywhere, either lighting up everything in sight or destroying what was left of the wall, screams of pain and panic everywhere and harsh footsteps trying to escape the large heavy blocks of cement falling.
And then, there was darkness.
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Between remembering himself he really did need to breathe and trying to suppress his memories and fears, Draco kept running as fast as he could.
Why was he even running was beyond him, since he perfectly knew they would catch him. And once they did, he didn't expect any pity from anyone. Nor did he want any for starters. And the fact that Dementors were passing by both his sides and were floating above him wasn't helping him in the least.
There was no happiness in him now, that was obvious. Yet, the creatures were searching his memories. Back in first year, when Slytherin wan the Quidditch Cup before Wonder Potter started screwing that small content away right in the year he entered the team. Fifth year, when he was made Prefect. And... Iris. When he met her. How hard she had been to get, such a... challenge to him. And how she had changed from a simple conquest to something much more valuable. And everything was replaced by his fears. The knowledge of losing both his parents to the war, for being condemned a life sentence in Azkaban for crimes he had done, yet had not had any choice in them whatsoever. And what he had almost done just as he was running away from the school with Snape right behind him.
««Flashback»»
"Good evening, Draco."
Said boy stopped dead in his tracks. Glancing around for a bit, his pale eyes finally settled in a dark blue cloaked figure, the long snowy white beard and half moon specks leaving very little doubts. Stormy grey locked with sapphire blue.
"Ingenious, that way of yours, was it not?"
His fingers twirled his wand around almost sheepishly. He knew? And he did nothing at all about it? "How did you find out?"
"It wasn't all that difficult. All year long, you've been on edge. Once Ten told me that Miss Koltchak had heard you claiming your loyalty over to the Dark Side, I started watching you. Skipping off, barely eating just to go over to the Room of Requirement."
A drop of cold sweat dripped from near his temple to his jaw line, making him shiver lightly. Old fool, my ass... Father doesn't know what exactly is he capable of.
"And do tell, are you just going to run off?" how exactly could he be so calm in a situation like this, was beyond Draco's comprehension.
"I'm not running off. And..." the fingers curled about his wand tightened. He now had a choice. If he went on with the plan, he could escape with the Death Eaters. Alas, he'd choose the Dark Lord's side, but at least he would stay alive. Or if he didn't, he could keep running and inevitably get caught. The silence grew.
"I don't think you will kill me, Draco. Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe." As if it would be my first killing anyway... "Yet it is your only chance of redemption." Either way, I'll die. "We would help you, Draco. Protect you. Your family."
For the first time in the presence of the Headmaster, fear ebbed in his eyes. Weakly, the teen shook his head, voice lowered to nearly a whisper, "I can't. You'd never make it on time. My mother would be killed by then."
"Then how come have you not killed me yet?"
He almost had the urge to scream at the wizard's intellect. "I..."
"Draco. You are not a killer."
I wish I could believe that. His hold on the wand tightened, his knuckles turning white. His arm was lifted, the hesitance from before gone from his features, "Corruere." The spell shot from the tip of his wand and hit Dumbledore easily. Just a mere Stunning spell, stronger then Stupefy, but it only knocked out people for a few minutes. Footsteps were heard behind him. He took a deep breath; Snape. Good enough. At least, he would buy the old man a couple of more minutes.
««End Flashback»»
Involuntarily, his arms wrapped around himself as he ran farther and farther away from the school grounds, his fingernails biting down painfully into the tender skin. The air was still thick with tension; the Dark Lord was still alive.
Loneliness and sorrow threatened to overcome him, as his eye sight slowly started to fail him, giving in to the darkness. A seemingly blissful darkness he knew he wouldn't be getting off soon.
"Draco!" Snape's gruff voice brought him back to the current situation. Aurors were still chasing them. And Death Eaters were chasing him. The excuse he killed other followers of the Dark Lord by mistake wouldn't do. And he was still wondering what were the Dementors doing anyway (besides freaking him out, that is); while the Ministry didn't do anything, they were free to do as they pleased, now that their Lord was about to be dead.
The coldness was getting to him. The memories of what he had seen his father doing. Of his own sins. His betrayal to both sides. He was as good as dead.
His knees connected harshly to the fluffy grass of Hogwarts' grounds, a hundred feet away from the Forest and after it, the gate that would lead him out of the school and into a small sense of freedom. Only to be caught by the remaining Death Eaters.
Draco didn't hear Snape's urgent calls to follow him or even noticed the couple Patronus appearing from the Aurors' wands to ward off the Dementors all around him. His body curled up as memories kept coming, cold sweat making his tremble dejectedly, brokenly.
Before anyone was able to take him out of there, he already was unconscious.
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Gingerly, silvery hues opened. Their owner blinked several times, the pupils diminishing to get used to the sudden bright light.
Iris lifted her head slowly, noticing that the source of all the light was the sunrise. As her eyes looked around, she immediately closed them tightly.
So much destruction, blood... Death.
But above all, she survived. Though she really couldn't say that to the people scattered around her. Forcibly, she turned her orbs away, her cheeks completely void of colour.
After taking several deep breaths, she finally let her eyes reopen as she slowly got up. Neat her eyebrow, the witch could feel dried blood and on her cheeks, she supposed she had pinkish trails clear as day, tears mixed with sweat and more blood.
Her clothes... Tattered and bloodied with hers and others' blood; if it wasn't her cloak, maybe someone would mistake her by a muggle prostitute or something. Her hair felt crisp and looked more and more like straw as she glanced absently at some loose strands that escaped her half done ponytail in an effort not to see the carnage around her.
Ignoring the bodies of students, of Death Eaters and not having the courage to check if they were alive or not, the girl followed the small trails of blood flowing down the hills, towards what was left of the castle.
Most of it was still standing. Even if one of the walls was literally blown off. And by the sounds of things (which was no sound at all), it seemed to be all over. Some of the dead people, she knew, at least from sight. Others, injured, were just waking up with the sun, like she had.
The thought that her friends and lover were back at the castle, probably also getting up made her lips crack into a small smile and give her a new hope, her footsteps more secure, faster, the squishy sound of her boots in the bloodied grass more faint to her ears.
Once arriving at the large entrance, partially destroyed and its tall large oak doors crumbled to pieces and scattered around the place, she allowed her eyes to finally focus on the damage made.
The resistance. The new generation. The ones who were now picking up the pieces, trying to rebuilt what they once had had, forgetting the tears and passing through the pain of losing a loved one.
A hand was placed on her shoulder. Glancing up, her greyish eyes met dark brown. A sixth year tall boy stood beside her, pale, tear streaks clearly in his cheeks. A fellow Ravenclaw of her Muggle Studies' class.
"Davis." Her voice was hoarse, scratching her throat as she spoke. But at the moment, that wasn't important, nor did she care.
"Iris." For the first time, he used her given name. Since she was a Slytherin, that rarely ever happened. Hence, even her own house treated her by her surname. And, did surprises never cease, he smiled softly, "You ok?"
"Couple of scratches. You?" her words were quick, his slower. He took a couple of seconds to understand her raspy reply, not that she blamed him.
"The same. The Death Eaters were the most attacked. There aren't all that many deaths on our side, thank Merlin. Ten and Harry are inside. A bit hurt, or something, but ok. They didn't even sleep."
"Sleep?" her eyebrow quirked, "The war ended a few hours ago."
"Not really. A day ago. This is the second dawn after Voldemort's demise." A shudder ran down her spine at the name. No matter just how many years passed, the terror would always be there.
"We slept for a whole damn day?!"
"Most people, yeah. The shock of energies did that. Something about using our own magical abilities to defeat the Dark Side as well. We were too tired, so we slept right through the day. Ten's explanation." He tilted his head to the side, motioning inside.
Her voice suddenly failed her, "Have you seen Draco?"
The boy blinked, "Malfoy? Err, no... I saw him run outside. I thought he was going to help you out or something. Haven't seen him since then."
"Thanks." Her feet carried her past the tall doors, deeper inside, being careful not to step on anybody. He was alive, that much she knew. She would have felt it if he had died. But that didn't mean he wasn't deeply hurt. Her heart demanded her to know that.
As she walked, the people all around thickened, some talking, some being helped out by mediwitches. That was good, at least. Survivors; sign of hope. But no matter how hard she tried, looking around and standing on her tip toes, she did not spot his platinum blonde head.
Near the sideways staff table, a familiar frame caught her attention. Their owner turned around. The trademark bright blue eyes, tired but relieved, left no doubts. Her pale lips curved and parted, forming a light grin as said orbs rested on her. Running the rest of the short distance towards each other, they both hugged one another tightly.
"Even though I was sure you weren't dead, some part of me was afraid of going outside and finding you dead, you know." Ten's voice was partially hoarse, not as much as her own, and cracked at some points.
Iris slowly pulled back, taking in her features, a light frown on her own. Pale face, split lip, tear streaks and dull eyes swimming in fresh tears. "Ten...? Is something wrong?"
The first row of teeth bit deeply into her bottom lip, the muscles near her eyes twitching discreetly, the subtle motion making a single tear roll down a colourless cheek. The heiress shook her head weakly, resting her chin on her friend's shoulder. Long moments of silence passed, before she was able to whisper two words, "He's gone."
Iris's breath hitched. Two options: Draco? Dumbledore? Obviously, Ten was closer to Dumbledore, but she also cared for Draco. She had to know, she had to ask, "He, who?" her hand rested over her back gently, trying to comfort her.
"Grandfather." Sadness flew through her being, and to her disbelief, a slight sense of relief. Even she almost knew the answer to that question, she wanted a confirmation. Alright, so he wasn't dead.
"I'm sorry." A soft sigh escaped her, the motion on her back not stopping. But as much as it pained her to see her best friend this way, she needed to know, "Do you know where Draco is?" maybe she was being a bit selfish. Or a bit paranoid. She knew that.
But the urgency on her voice seemed to be enough for Ten. She pulled away from the embrace, avoiding her eyes, "I... Iris, please trust me when I say I did everything I could. But you know how Aurors are."
Her jaws were severely clenched against one another, making them ache, not that she cared much. Something about the way she was speaking wasn't too pleasant, "Please go on."
Can't wash it all away...
Can't wish it all away...
Can't hope it all away...
Can't cry it all away...
"He's not here... Before the Aurors I sent to get him, others had already reached him. He was taken away with the other Death Eaters." her eyes finally looked up to hers, "Sent over to the several prisons, besides Azkaban, of course. They're still trying to find him. Till then..." her voice trailed off.
The pain that grips you,
The fear that binds you...
Releases life in me
In a matter of seconds, her eyes grew cold. "With the rest of the lot of them? Heck, they want revenge on him! He helped us!"
"I know that, but the Aurors didn't. They'll find him soon, in a matter of two days, maybe three-"
"Draco could be dead by then!! You know that as good as I do!" Iris closed her eyes tightly, feeling her heart tightening with worry as well. Who knew how he was doing? How hurt he was? Every wish to rest over the war and to lie down vanished.
In our mutual shame, we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth
That finds a way from who we are..
"No one can do anything else to help him. There are quite a lot improvised prisons right now and all of them are protected. No Localizing Spell could pick him up." A weary sigh escaped the heiress's lips, "Please take a rest. We'll find him, I promise you."
Please, don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away...
The dawn will break the silence
Screaming in our hearts
"No..." the black haired witch moaned miserably, tears rolling down her cheeks each time faster, "I can't... What if he's hurt? Being tortured? I can't rest while knowing he's dying!"
My love for you still grows...
This, I do for you
For I try to fight the truth,
My final time
Ten frowned lightly, "Iris, please. Calm yourself down. He's strong. You know that as well as I do. Before all this, I tried to let him know we'd help him. It was his choice to run. But we'll bring him back, everything will be ok."
Can't wash it all away,
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away,
Can't scratch it all away
With a soft thud, her knees landed on the still damp floor, one hand resting over her heart, her free arm hugging her lower abdomen. She was too tired, too weak psychologically to try anything to find him, and this sudden revelation wasn't helping her nerves.
Lying beside you,
Listening to you breathe
The life that flows inside of you
Burns inside of me
The memories of that single night together mocked her; how simple everything had been back then. Or so she had thought. Simple? Not anymore.
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound...
Tell me you will live through this
And I will die for you
Her focus faltered, the pain in her chest increasing. Gravity took its took on her, her body tumbling to the side as she no longer supported her own weight. Trembling hands fisted her ebony hair, the ponytail soon coming loose, not that she noticed.
Cast me not away...
Say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot bear it all alone
Her tears fell soundlessly, quiet sobs escaping her throat once in a while as a pair of arms wrapped around her frame, embracing her and pulling her into a soft warm chest, rubbing her arms in a calming gesture. Yet, calmness was being elusive...
Can't fight it all away,
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away,
It just won't fade away, no
Almost like a sudden realisation, her eyes opened once more. "What if... he gives in to them?"
Can't wash it all away,
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away,
Can't scratch it all away
"Gives in? What do you mean?" Ten's sad, dull orbs looked down at her shaking frame in slight confusion, even if herself wasn't very interested in knowing the answer. Her mind was elsewhere, yet the rational part of her persisted that the girl currently in her arms needed the comfort.
Can't fight it all away,
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
Oh, will it all away,
Oh, will it all away...
"He's not pure. He never was. And with everything he should be passing through right now, who knows he won't just give in to the dark?" a haunted look obscured the usual lightness of her silvery blue eyes.
But despite her friend's fear, the lips of the other witch curved into a small, absent smile, "He has you. You're his light. He's out there fighting, because he knows he will return to you."
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««Two days later, middle of the night»»
Bathed in the darkness, just a slim beam of moonlight coming in through the small window above him, Draco sat quietly, his back leaning against the cold damp wall, making him shiver once in a while.
They had taken his wand, and his freedom. But most of all, they had taken Iris away from him.
My black backpack stuffed with broken dreams
Twenty bucks should get me through the week
Never said a word of discontentment...
Thought it a thousand times, but now
I'm leaving home
The insults of him being a traitor had long been promptly ignored as he waited patiently. Each day, a couple of Death Eaters were taken away, probably to be judged. It wouldn't be long till it was his turn. Unless someone proved his so called innocence, that he had helped the Light Side. In that case, he would return.
Return... return to Hogwarts. Malfoy Manor should be flowing with Aurors, since his dear father was in the inner circle of Vol.. Volde... the Dark Lord. Unconsciously, he shivered again, his right hand covering the Dark Mark in his left wrist. The wizard could be gone, but what he did could never be truly forgotten.
Here in the shadows,
I'm safe, I'm free
I've nowhere else to go,
But I cannot stay where I don't belong
Not that he was blaming anyone from being here. After recovering from having Dementors all around him, he had said nothing and done no motion to try and escape. Simply followed, in between the two Aurors that had caught him.
Two months pass by and it's getting cold
I know I'm not lost, I'm just alone
But I won't cry, I won't give up, I can't go back now
Waking up is knowing who you really are
He was alone, cold and in a weakened state from the battle, yet everyone looked at him weirdly, wondering why he just did what people told him to. He promptly refused eating and only twice had he drunk anything. Escape... Escape where exactly? He wondered where he truly belonged now.
Here in the shadows,
I'm safe, I'm free
I've nowhere else to go,
But I cannot stay where I don't belong
Absently, his tongue traced his lips, wetting them. It was in sleepless nights like this one he always thought about the large stash of firewhisky and fine wine back at the Manor. Like the previous night, sleep would not grace him with its presence, no matter how much he wanted it. He was tired and the lack of sleep was starting to get to him. A heavy sigh escaped him.
In the shadows,
I'm safe, I'm free
I've nowhere else to go,
But I cannot stay here, oh
His wounds still needed to be treated, not that they were too serious. Yet, they needed to be looked at, obviously. It wasn't like they were all that light either.
Show me the shadow where true meaning lies
So much more dismay in empty eyes
The sound of heavy footsteps made him look over to the door of the room he was currently in. Listless grey eyes blinked.
The lock was unlocked almost noiselessly, two tall figures entering, one of them holding a tray. Almost tiredly, his eyebrows furrowed. Bringing him food in the middle of the night? Or, a gloomier part of his mind chirped in, his last meal. He turned away from them uninterested. "You can take that away." His voice sounded raspy to his own ears. Ever since he got here he hadn't spoken; he supposed it was normal.
"Draco Malfoy?" a woman's voice spoke up quietly, the shortest figure taking a couple of steps closer.
A light sneer curved his pale lips, "The rightful heir to the fortune, son of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black, supposed supporter of the perished Dark Lord and a Death Eater. Subtlety is my trademark, cleverness comes naturally and cunning is second nature. And let's not forget about sneakiness."
In the darkness of the place, the tip of a wand was lit, making him look away briefly. The woman knelt beside him, "Draco, we're here to take you back."
"What?" his tone was actually surprised, his grey orbs slowly looking more of a lighter silver tinge with a flicker of hope in them, the usual mix of his father's deep grey eyes and his mother's baby blue eyes. The flash of bright blue short hair made him took in the witch's features.
Fair skinned, high cheekbones, thin pale lips. Why did that seem so awfully familiar? Then it dawned on him. The similarity. This woman, and his mother. What was her name again? Tonks. Yes, Tonks, that was it. They were technically cousins, not that he cared much about the fact. His family had always thought she was a blood traitor; never in his life had he held a talk with her.
"We'll take you back to Hogwarts. Ten has been worried about you and that friend of hers is quite literally explosive with everyone." She smiled lightly, "You were lucky we found you."
"Tomorrow would be your turn, boy." A deep male voice made him look up. Where had he heard that-? Oh. The werewolf. Lupin. His eyes fell to the ground again as he slowly nodded.
"Are you hurt?" that small flicker of hope shined more surely in his lightening eyes at those words. Their usual spark was returning.
"A bit. It's nothing much." He made an effort to get up, just as a sharp pain surged through his side. Oh right... that last curse sent his way. With a soft groan, he sat back down, slowly opening his eyes, heavy with pain.
"I hardly doubt that. Lie down." Tonks sent him a look, again making him remember one of his mother's.
Draco frowned, "I'll take care of this once we're back at Hogwarts. Take me there first." The teen tried to get up once more, only to have a hand over his shoulder, stopping him.
"You've been here for almost four days. You need some help and the sooner we treat those injuries, the sooner you can rest." With a wave of her wand, his shirt Vanished, making him tense up almost immediately, goose bumps appearing over his pale skin. Not only because he wasn't still too confident around Tonks, but the damn environment was still quite cold. It was January after all.
"Scratches... Hmm, those aren't serious indeed." A few muttered words and a few twirls of her wand, the wounds cured themselves. "Though this one here... Remus." The tip of the former professor's wand lightened up, casting a faint light. "Oye, this one's deep. Do you remember which curse was it?"
A deep hurt and resentment crossed over the boy's light grey hues, which turned a lighter shade of blue, only to change back again. "Caught me by surprise. I didn't even hear anything, just felt the pain." Both physical and mental. Courtesy of his dear father.
Both Lupin and Tonks exchanged a look. "It might just be a simple curse, but I don't know if it has side effects."
"Other than pain and dizziness, I felt nothing as of yet." The blonde whispered quietly, fighting off a shiver.
The woman blinked, noticing that, "Oh, I'm sorry, kiddo. I forgot how cold this can be." The atmosphere suddenly warmed up to a pleasant level at the general swish of a wand. "Well, pain is obvious, and the dizziness might be for lack of rest, yes?"
"I can't sleep while knowing someone can cast a Killing Curse just a few feet away and me, sound asleep." He snapped, the usual vicious tone fading a bit. He was getting more and more tired. The other two looked at each other again, mouthing "Blood loss." almost in unison.
Ignoring his complains, the witch got to work, first cleaning off the blood over the gash and then tending to it.
"...Besides, Pomfrey-" his tirade was interrupted by his own painful hiss, "Merlin, watch what you're doing!"
"Then stay still and be quiet! Here, drink this." a small vial was put in his hand, "It will take the pain away, most of it." The tray Lupin had been holding was placed down. Bandages and scissors met his eyes, the whiteness of it all standing out in the dark room. With a shrug, which lacked his usual charm, the boy brought the potion to his lips, tilting his head back and drinking it in two gulps. His eyelids grew heavy, his dark pupils dilating as his consciousness left him after three long days and three long nights.
Tonks smiled softly, "Eh, he'll thank us later for this." without the complains and moving about from her cousin, she quickly took care of the rest of his injuries. "Pick him up if you please, Remus."
Giving her a look, Lupin bent down, easily picking up the sixteen year old, "Better rely on his wishes to go back now. He's far too light; Poppy won't be thrilled with joy when we get him there."
"I know, I know... I swear, Narcissa is stubborn, but he inherited both hers and Lucius' stubbornness... Yet, we need to calm down a certain hurricane that goes by the name of Iris B. Koltchak first."
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"He's back."
Green orbs lifted from the plate of food they were currently focusing on, looking at the entrance of the Great Hall, the girl across from him doing the same. A weary looking Ten leaned against the wall.
Harry stood up. It was the first time he saw the heiress after the war. Which was four days ago. She had locked herself in the former Headmaster's office, using the bedroom behind it to pass the time. Only Professor McGonagall had entered, clearly saying she was passing through a hard phase and did not want anyone's company. Of course that, it could have been slightly different, if a future Mrs Malfoy hadn't lost her temper and just worried about her dear beau (that she perfectly knew,was safe and sound, even if locked up in some prison) instead of worrying over her friend that had just lost her only live relative. Damn Slytherin's and their selfish thoughts.
Iris's hard icy eyes blinked, a tinge of light blue slowly appearing through the light grey surface, giving them a sparkle, as she quickly replied "Really? Where? How is he?"
"Yes, infirmary and sleeping, respectively." The girl's tired voice was heard quietly. Barely hearing her finish the sentence, the black haired girl was out of the door. Sighing, the other witch turned to follow.
"Ten." She stopped walking, but had yet to turn around. His hand rested over her strangely cold shoulder. "You're not alone in this."
"I sure feel alone though, Harry." Her right arm wrapped around her own waist as if hugging herself, "Everyone's expecting something from me. All is upon me."
The boy blinked, "I don't expect anything from you. And all you did was lock yourself up in that office. How could you want people to help you out? Alright, so Koltchak was not helping at all, but other than that-"
"It's not just that!" the young woman turned around sharply, frowning, tears brimming her eyes, a few falling. "Can't you see? I'm tired of listening to people coming from the Ministry, owls arriving all the time! The Dumbledore Manor is now mine, but it's the same as if it wasn't! The same goes for my family vaults! You've nothing to worry, since everyone knows your parents are dead and you can use yours, but Gringotts still needs an authorisation! And I have nothing now, because some stupid law says I have to wait till I'm seventeen, since I'm off age!! Am I not off age, really? I've probably done more things than any of the high positioned guys out there did, all protected by Aurors and security! Is it my fault this is happening? NO, certainly no!" her voice quietened almost immediately, her anger vanishing, the sapphire eyes becoming dull, "Yet, it was my fault my grandfather died."
Gently, Harry shook his head. "That's not true. He..." the word was there, on his tongue, but he wasn't sure if he'd be helping much by saying it. Yet, he had to try, "Died to protect you. Don't blame yourself over that. He wouldn't like it." Closing the small distance between them, his arms slowly wrapped around her narrow waist, pulling her close.
"If he was here, none of this would have happened. Classes would be normally occurring, no journalists all over the place, no Ministry annoying us all." Ten whispered quietly, both hands fisting his robes tightly, her tears still falling. She took a shaky breath, letting her head rest against his shoulder.
"Don't." her greyish blue hues looked up at him in a silent question, lightening up ever so subtly, the usual sky blue colour now more visible just underneath all the sadness-filled irises, "Hold nothing back. Let it all go. If you need to cry, go ahead." A small sad smile curved his own pale lips, "I'll be here to catch every tear you cry, to comfort you... If you let me."
Her eyes closed tightly, as did her hands, grasping his shirt even more tightly. Low, quiet whimpers were heard once in a while, her shoulders quivering, his arms still wrapped comfortably around her small self. Long minutes passed before she finally pulled away from his chest, the red rays on her eyes only making her blue orbs stand out more, the tears running down her cheeks making her seem fragile, some rebel strands of her brown locks sticking to them. One of his hands reached up, tucking the couple of strands under her ears and brushing her tears away gently.
Her lips parted slowly, her tongue tracing them, tasting the saltiness of her tears. Her voice sounded hoarse even to her own ears, even if it was just a mere whisper, "Will you stay with me... please?"
A small smile made its way to the boy's lips, his eyes softening, "If that's what you want, I will." His lips brushed over her forehead, "I love you too much to let you go. But... You haven't let me help you."
Her eyes fell from his, "I felt too alone. Didn't feel like looking at anyone. Sorry for that." Her eyelids dropped, as did her voice, "We're supposed to try to be real. When I feel alone, we are not together and that is real."
He frowned in confusion. What was she talking about? "Are you hungry or do you want to take a rest?"
"Sleeping sounds good right now. I'll see Draco later. Iris will take good care of him, won't she?" as her eyes looked into his again, Harry found it strange to see her pupils so dilated. Though, said nothing about it. He nodded.
"Yeah. Let's go."
…TBC…
Thanks 2:
Tenebrae Rosa: eh, mayb xD I think I left it clear that wasn't my aim, but oh well. Mayb if he wasn't paired up w/ Ten, I wud :P